Category: Podcast

Navigating Healthcare as a Patient Advocate

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Patient advocacy shows up in so many meaningful ways, and my guest on this episode of the DiepCJourney® podcast has been part of my own journey since the very beginning. We first connected back in 2015, when I was just starting to write my blog. She offered guidance, encouragement, and wisdom at a time when I was still finding my footing. I’ve followed her story ever since, and her voice has continued to inspire me and so many others. She tells us the challenges of navigating healthcare as a patient advocate. As a valued member of the DiepCJourney® community, it felt only natural to invite her to share her experience with all of you. I’m delighted to share this interview summary of my chat with Rebecca Hogue, Becky to her friends. She shares her many life transitions from professional work, moving from the U.S. and back to Canada, two breast Continue Reading →

Traveling to the Center For Natural Breast Reconstruction

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For patients exploring their options for breast reconstruction and learning they must travel, the very thought of a long car trip or airline travel can seem like an overwhelming task. It is important at DiepCFoundation then that we provide those practices who support patients who will be traveling for their breast reconstruction surgery. On this episode of the DiepCJourney® podcast, I talk to Dr. Richard Kline and his team to learn how they support patients who travel to their practice at The Center for Natural Breast Reconstruction in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina. Please go over to the DiepCFoundation YouTube channel and look for this episode soon! If you have questions after you listen to the interview whether you listen to the podcast or watch the video, let us know and we’ll try to answer them. The Team Approach in Breast Reconstruction Dr. Kline collaborates with a team in the operating Continue Reading →

Episode 88: PRMA’s TruSense® in Breast Reconstruction for Sensate Breasts

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I sat down with Dr. Chet Nastala of PRMA Plastic Reconstructive Microsurgical Associates while visiting their practice in San Antonio for BRA Day 2025. We discuss TruSense® and sensate breasts, the PRMA service mark and surgical method they use to reconstruct nerves to improve sensation to the breast. The following is a summary of our discussion that you can listen to on the DiepCJourney® podcast. We have included the entirety of the interview below from episode 88: PRMA’s TruSense® in Breast Reconstruction for Sensate Breasts. Dr. Nastala’s Training and Background Dr. Nastala began his training in the northeast and attended Harvard for his undergraduate degree. He attended Duke for medical school and did his surgical training at the University of Pittsburg. There he completed training combining plastic surgery, general surgery, some surgical oncology, and research. He has been at PRMA plastic surgery for twenty-five years. He is particularly interested in Continue Reading →

Nipple Reconstruction at PRMA

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Do most people who have nipple reconstruction have breast reconstruction? Not necessarily. Do you think about nipple reconstruction if you’ve had breast cancer and are in a consultation for breast reconstruction? We are going to answer these questions and others on this episode of the DiepCJourney Podcast about nipple reconstruction at PRMA with my guest, Dr. Courtney Carpenter of PRMA in San Antonio, Texas. Meet Dr. Carpenter who Performs Nipple Reconstruction Dr. Carpenter joined PRMA in 2014 after moving her practice and family from Minnesota. She has over eight years’ experience in microsurgery, including head and neck reconstruction, facial trauma, juvenile breast deformities and craniofacial surgery. Dr. Carpenter is passionate about utilizing her extensive expertise and experience to help transform lives through reconstructive plastic surgery. I want to point out that PRMA uses the co-surgeon model in breast reconstruction, meaning there are two board-certified microsurgeons with the patient in the Continue Reading →

Stacked Flap in Breast Reconstruction for Radiated Skin and to Achieve Volume

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Listeners of the DiepCJourney podcast are familiar with the DIEP flap breast reconstruction. This is a procedure where the abdominal skin, tissue, and underlying blood vessels are used to replace the breast tissue lost due to mastectomy after being affected by breast cancer. This is a summary of the podcast entitled, “Stacked Flap in Breast Reconstruction for Radiated Skin and to Achieve Volume.” Introduction to Dr. Matatov Dr. Tim Matatov is a returning guest and for good reasons. He is a highly skilled, board-certified surgeon who is specifically trained in microsurgery. It is the specialty of microsurgery that is required to perform a stacked flap procedure. Dr. Matatov and his team perform these and why I reached out to him for this interview. It is important to remind readers that at Southwest Breast and Aesthetics they practice the co-surgeon model in autologous breast reconstruction. They have added new team members Continue Reading →

A Young Nurse and Her DIEP Flap Story

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This episode of the DiepCJourney podcast shares a fascinating story of a young woman who graciously and professionally takes us through her Journey from being diagnosed with breast cancer, cold capping, the effect on her family and young daughters, and to the story of her DIEP flap breast reconstruction. You can sit and watch our conversation on the DiepCFoundation YouTube channel. Lacey is a dear friend, and I am honored to share the story of a young nurse and her DIEP flap story. Meet My Guest Lacey I am speaking with Lacey Terpstra-Reid. She is a registered nurse residing in Guthrie, Oklahoma. In November 2022 she was diagnosed with triple positive breast cancer at age 33. Lacey has over 10 years of bedside experience as a nurse from working in a cardiac ICU where she cared for countless ECMO patients to her current role as an outpatient surgery recovery RN. Continue Reading →

The Gift of Patient Advocacy Wisdom

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This episode of the DiepCJourney Podcast recorded in December of 2024 is a discussion across continents with two women leaders I admire who engage in patient advocacy and the patient story. I invite you to listen to the podcast embedded in this blog. Together we produced the title, “The Gift of Patient Advocacy Wisdom.” What a gift for me to sit with these two amazing women, Marie Ennis O’Connor and Sue Robins. What Does Patient Advocacy Look Like? Patient advocacy at its very core is giving voice to patients, no matter what healthcare diagnosis or treatment they are facing. “Voice” can take the form of speaking engagements at conferences, writing blogs, consulting, nonprofit work, making policy changes, and much more. All forms of patient advocacy begin with a story. Patient advocacy is also demanding work. To be effective one must commit to this. It means long hours of navigating a Continue Reading →

Credibility in the Noise – Social Media, Breast Reconstruction, and Your Experience

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What social media platforms do you use to find information about breast reconstruction? Is it TikTok, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, YouTube? This interview summary with Dr. Andrew Gassman of PRMA in San Antonio is about finding credibility in the noise – social media, breast reconstruction, and your experience. Dr. Gassman’s Interest in How Patients are Utilizing Social Media for Breast Reconstruction Dr. Andrew Gassman is a highly skilled and capable individual who knows DIEP flap breast reconstruction well. He joined the group at PRMA in January of 2021 and works with nine other microsurgeons who primarily perform autologous breast reconstruction for those affected by breast cancer. Before his time at PRMA he spent several years as an associate professor teaching future surgeons advanced breast reconstruction technique. He continues to be an active researcher. Our conversation addresses his interest in how patients want to chat, how to reach more people to offer Continue Reading →

A Breast Cancer Patient Intent on Finding Access to Care

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Access to medical care for those affected by breast cancer is crucial, and often life transformative. This is a personal story of a breast cancer patient intent on finding access to care. She is a woman of strength and stopped at nothing to find the best care available for her during her personal journey from diagnosis to recovery from DIEP flap breast reconstructive surgery. I am pleased to offer this summary of the DiepCJourney podcast. Dana’s Diagnosis and Breast Cancer Treatment Dana Brown, PhD., is a 54-year-old wife, mother, and educator. She has been married to her best friend and soulmate for 35 years and they have an amazing son who is twenty-six. Recently, after 30 years in education, after much consideration with her husband, Dana decided to retire. This decision was made based on the reason she is sharing her story with you on the podcast about how she Continue Reading →

Breast Reconstruction Surgery In New Orleans at CRBS

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Have you searched endlessly perhaps days and weeks, for a microsurgeon to perform breast reconstruction? Access to care is a real concern for patients who are affected by breast cancer. Finding a plastic surgeon who specializes in tissue reconstruction in the area you live in is not always a service afforded to all patients. Traveling for breast reconstruction is not out of the ordinary. It was something I did myself for my DIEP flap. This is a summary of the DiepCJourney podcast. I interview one such surgeon and practice breast cancer patients travel as we discuss Breast Reconstruction Surgery In New Orleans at CRBS, the Center for Restorative Breast Surgery. Why Dr. Zafar chose Microsurgery and Breast Reconstruction I interview Dr. Sarosh Zafar, a double board-certified microsurgeon in plastic and reconstructive surgery and general surgery. She specializes in the most advanced methods of breast reconstruction, complex reconstruction, and microsurgery. She Continue Reading →